enigma-2

Yo, @FixOrRepairDaily100, you're responding to a post thats 10 years old. (Thats fifty years in forum years.)

"the radio should work as well as the AM radio in a 1969 Ford Mustang" Back in 1968. AM radio was still widely listened to. Today's it's considered as a last (distant) choice. Back in 69 your car used a 42" whip, sticking out of the front fender. Great place for reception. But it killed the looks of the car. So they relegated to antenna to a "that oughta be good nuf".

"Second - transmission flush quoted at $249. Third - Brake fluid flush $225 Fourth - serpentine belt $260" For reference, local Ford dealer near me charges $399.95 for transmission service (basically fluid exchange) & $299.95 for brake fluid exchange. (Which is the reason that I found a private mechanic to service my car with. Only uses OEM parts and checks everything before returning the car to me.) BTW, which engine do you have (that needs a new serpentine belt.) .

No. That much coolant in the oil will always turn it into a light brown milkshake. It's probably not the water pump. Most likely cause on a car that old is a hose has failed. Specifically, the first place I'd look is the lower radiator hose. Shouldn't be too hard to find. Refill the coolant, start the car so that the cooling system is pressurized and look under the engine for a dribble.

(A whole new exhaust???? ABS control module????) Yeaaaaa, I'd definitely get a 2nd opinion. Seems like a lot (too much) to fail for a car of that age.

What did you have done, and what else does it need? (Believe i would get a 2nd opinion.)

Be smart & save money. Your rims are just scratched up (wait till you see what happens after she parks it at the high school parking lot.) Keep the rims, take them too a GOOD mechanic and buy tires from him (reminding him that you can also get them through TireRack so he discounts what he offers. I just did this and my mechanic told me all professional mechanics are aligned with a tire distributor. Gave me Pirelli Scorpions at the TireRack price. (Plus refinished the rims.) ) Have him refinish the rims to stop the leaks (its not hard to refinish rims to stop leaking, plus they can always use a sealer, either way, stops leaks.) Tires..? I'm a firm believer in GOOD tires, not (never) cheap. I like Pirelli Scorpion's. BTW, 21's weren't listed as an OEM size (18" & 20"). 22's were listed as optional. One more thing, don't forget to check the spare. They have a habit of losing air or valve stem cracking from age.

Think I'd check the tie rod ends, ball joints and wheel bearings, as well. Often times there's more going on than just being out of alignment due to hitting a pot hole.

I have had my batteries and charging system checked and both passed. All too often dealers and mechanics check the battery by just checking the voltage. A battery at rest can show 12½ volts, but drops dramatically when a load is applied. The proper method to use when checking a battery is to check its actual capacity; the CCA rating. A battery check can show 12½ volts but have only 40% backup capacity, which means that as soon as you crank the engine, there's no reserve left for the other loads; and the voltage drops.

@FOUL MUSTY SWEET ODOR Ever figure this out? When I first read it, coolant immediately came to mind. Dealer finely step up & come through?

????......?

Never had it, never missed it. Just use the remote to lock/unlock the 4 doors. Haven't use a key to lock/unlock doors in ........ like never.

First thing to try in troubleshooting is to switch the lamp assembly in the passengers side to the drivers side, (and drivers side to passengers side.) If the passengers assembly no longer works in the drivers side, you have a wiring problem in the drivers mirror or where the wiring passes from the body into the door. (Especially true if the one that failed in the drivers door now works in the pass door.) If the passengers assy continues to work in the drivers side, you have a defective replacement (and OEM) assembly. .

Ever get the switch replaced?

Try resetting the tailgate sensor by pressing (and holding) the tailgate close button (upper left on the open tailgate), for 10 seconds.